NAME YOUR PRICE "That's not the right question to ask, barrister," Madam Rebecca said, slyly curling her lips. She was a drama queen obviously but the barrister was worried."You know what your husband would do to me if he found out we met secretly behind his back.""Who will tell him?" she tilted her head backwards and the mass of auburn wig she wore over her dark brown natural hair twirled in the evening breeze. She had used a fez cap to further mask her face, however, when she raised her face, Alfred could see her dull blue-coloured eyes. "Unless you do, I don't see how a man holed up in his room can know anything happening many miles away.""It still doesn't answer the question, ma'am. Why did you summon me here?" The barrister repeated looking over his shoulder as the waiter who showed him to the wine bar came back to take his order. Madam Rebecca brightened up. "Please ask the gentleman what he cares for. I'm not ready to order yet," she said dramatically as though he was doin
AT YOUR SERVICECaleb waited until it was dark before slipping out of the house. He needed to do this alone and discreetly. He had tried several times to reach Bella but her line was still switched off. "Maybe she wants to be left alone," he thought to himself. He could have sent Abhi to find out but decided against it. The less people knew about his involvement with the girl, the better for him, he reasoned. As he got to the hospital, he prayed to meet the kind lady who attended to him that day in the bleeding room. Adriana had travelled back to Madrid for her professional exams otherwise he would have asked her to get the woman's data from her daughter's hospital chart. The lab attendant was just coming out of the bleeding room carrying a pint of blood. She recognised him by herself. "Hey, you're back to donate for another patient?" she teased him. Caleb smiled. "Oh, no. But I could if you treat me nicely," he jokingly said. The young lady smiled back. "Will running a free BP
DANGEROUS MOVE"Turn around slowly and don't scream," the voice said.Then the realization hit him."Mia?""What are you doing sneaking around the hospital at this time of the night?" she said as Caleb swirled around to face her. He couldn't make out her features in the darkness but she looked thinner than her usual self.Caleb didn't know what answer to give her. If Adriana was still around he might have lied that he came to see his doctor friend. But from nowhere a crazy idea popped into his head. "What I'm doing here is none of your business, Mia." "How can you say that when you haven't been around to see me since I was discharged?" She said and started coughing in pretence to evoke Caleb's sympathy. Caleb narrowed his furrow. "Have you been stalking me?" Even though it was too dark for him to see Mia's face, he knew she was startled at the question especially when he added, "And if you've been discharged, why are you in the hospital by this time?" "I came to collect my lab res
ANOTHER CONFRONTATION Caleb called the number the next day and the voice that answered at the other end was that of a little girl. She said, "My mother is not around. Who is on the line?""I am a friend," he said. Then he thought to spice it up a bit. "I am someone very important in society. I want to meet with your mother."He heard voices in the background but couldn't make out what they were saying. "If that is the case, can you tell me your name?" "Caleb. My name is Caleb Dezani," he replied. There was a pregnant pause. Then he heard the little girl scream, "You are the man whose name was mentioned on TV?" Caleb chuckled. "I guess so." "You are a very great man. I will tell my mommy to call you back." "Who are you talking with?" a female voice echoed in the background. That must be Bella's mother, Caleb thought. The little girl answered, "You won't believe it, Mama, the great man we saw on TV wants to speak with you." Caleb listened and heard muffled voices. Then the female
THE FACE-OFFThe other three men knelt down in front of Caleb and began to plead. The one he cracked his forehead had blood dripping into his eyes. It caused those who were queuing to get gas to wonder who he really was. One of them was a lady alongside her teenage daughter sitting in front of the car. She whispered as the mother wound down her side window to speak to the pump attendant, "Is he a taekwondo trainer, Mom?""Hush," the mother cautioned. "He looks like a Mafia leader," she mouthed. Caleb ordered them to stand up and get into their vehicle. They scrambled to their feet and ran to the car. Their dramatic shuffling of feet made the pump attendant chuckle quietly. Meanwhile, he was still holding the driver by the collar. The guy choked and coughed, he was struggling to say something."You will take a message to whoever sent you to stalk me but, before then, I'm going to make you pay for daring to accept such a bad deal," Caleb said. He folded his hand and punched him hard i
DREDGE UP THE PAST"Now this is getting more intriguing," thought Caleb. "If the story goes the way I'm thinking it might, then I'm going to enjoy watching El-Zaki and Madam Rebecca engage in a slugfest."The thought made him feel lighter. So many odds were against the former don and his family. And at this rate, he didn't need to do much to get his revenge. Circumstances were already aligning themselves to deal them a hard blow."Would he recognise you if he saw you today?" was the next question that popped out of Caleb's mouth. Hannah shrugged."I really doubt that. I was a young, naive, and impressionable young girl. He might not even recall my face. We were more than 9 of us working as domestic staff at that time." "I see," Caleb sighed. "Please continue." Hannah's face had turned red and Caleb didn't know whether it was due to sadness or embarrassment. "I'm sorry if this is a little bit hard for you," he empathised. Aunt Regina drew closer and placed a comforting hand on her
UNPLANNED VISIT "So, Miguel El-Zaki is not just a murderer; he's also a rapist!" Lord Dezani exclaimed after Caleb got home and narrated what he learned from Bella's mother to him. "And only God knows how many other naive girls he has taken advantage of in his capacity as a don," added Caleb. Then he said, "Grandpa, we have everything we need to go after him now."The old man considered his statement and replied, "Yes we do. However, we must make certain that the said woman will be willing to testify if the case gets to court.""I'm sure she would," he echoed. But another thought crossed his mind. He remembered Aunt Regina and Mama saying that Hannah was having a hard time letting go of her past even when she married her late husband. That might be the only little challenge he has to deal with. "Although I may need to persuade her to come forth when that time comes."His grandfather too seemed to be having something on his mind. "By the way, have you heard from Mr Ramirez since you
A SETUP GONE WRONG "I don't want to repeat myself, get dressed and leave my office," Caleb said raising his voice. He did that deliberately so that Mia won't stage a scene and accuse him of rape afterwards.When she continued to undress, he threatened her that he was going to call the police."Don't tell me you haven't missed all this." She ran her fingers seductively on her breasts and threw her shirt to the floor, leaving only her briefs on. "And don't even think about lying because I know you haven't been with any other woman since the last time you were with me."Caleb's face flushed with embarrassment. He hated the fact that she was right on that note. But his reason for staying away from women had nothing to do with Mia altogether. Or did it? He wondered within. Whatever, he wasn't going to let her continue to think she still held so much power over him. He replied, "I have several women who are dying to have me in their bed, Mia. One of them is within this building as we spe
THE ENDCaleb went to DeZ Cosmetics the next day with some men from the ministry to reopen the place. He still remembered a few of the staff there and began to call them one by one.Mr Apollo, the company's supervisor, was the first person he called. "Hello Mr Apollo, this is Caleb. Caleb Dezani. I'm calling from DeZ Cosmetics and I am in the office right now. Do you mind reporting to work?"The man grunted in disbelief. "But the company was closed down two days ago. And you no longer work there. Last I asked, I was told you took over as the CEO of another company." Caleb laughed. "Well, that last part is true. However, the company was under dispute and has now been resolved. I have reclaimed it as the rightful CEO and want you to return to work. Please while coming, do well to call others to report to work too. I shall be waiting at the reception hall."But Mr Apollo didn't call anyone until he got to the company and found out for himself that the place was indeed reopened. It was a
THE TRUTH IS OUT It felt like a nightmare as the black police Hilux which carried Madam Rebecca drove into the ministry. Her heart was thumping in her chest. She didn't know what to expect. She was ushered into the office by the officers who brought her with specific instructions from the inspector. Meanwhile, Caleb hadn't joined them. When the inspector asked whether he was going to the ministry from the station, he replied that he wanted his grandfather to be present during the meeting. "I need to go and pick him up at home." The two men shook hands, "Well, whatever happens, do not hesitate to ring me." "Thank you so much, Inspector. I hope we shall be able to meet and have that drink soon." The man laughed. "I will count the hours till I hear from you. Good luck!" he added. Caleb drove back home and lord Diego joined him to the ministry. Abhi couldn't follow because he had already left for work. But his stepmother, Leah, insisted on being a part of it. Caleb obliged her.
The FINAL NAIL The next man to interrogate him was the meanest of them. His face was cold and unfeeling."Why did you abandon your textile business?""I didn't abandon it.""Excuse me?""I did not abandon the business. I was defrauded and the business collapsed." "That means you went bankrupt after that?" He didn't answer. "Please can you speak up so the next person can take over?" "Not really. I had people who pulled resources together to loan me the capital I needed to rebuild my business." "And yet you didn't. Or did you?" Again he swallowed hard. "Okay, let me rephrase the question. As a businessman who was into textile, after you were defrauded and people loaned you money, did you rebuild your textile business?" "No." "So what did you do? "I went into partnership with someone in another line of business." "And what business was that?" "Cosmetics. I went into cosmetics." "Good. That will be all from me."By the time the rest of the members had interrogated him, El-Za
MAKING CONCESSIONEl-Zaki woke up for the third time since he was shot and realised he was in a different atmosphere.This new place smelled of drugs and drip water. "Where am I?" he asked no one in particular. A male nurse who was attached to him was sitting by a desk writing. He looked up and said, "You are in an infirmary. You were shot but now recovering." El-Zaki tried to look around and the effort made his head hurt. "Who shot me and which infirmary is this?" The nurse was instructed not to answer any questions past introducing himself and offering medical care. "I'm sorry sir but you shouldn't be concerned about that. You are responding well to treatment and your wound is drying up faster than expected. Please tell me if you feel any pain or want anything." The man stubbornly tried to sit up and felt a sharp pain on his side." Oh gosh! My rib!" he grunted. "Lie still," the nurse advised. He looked at his watch and said, "It's almost time for your midnight draught. It will
SLIPPING AWAYIt was Mr Ramirez calling back Caleb to tell him the men at the checkpoint said the truck was merely carrying items for charity.But Caleb knew better than to buy that lie. He remembered his own travel adventure with Pedro. How he had to hide at the bottom of Grandpa Carlos' truck loaded with cow refuse and feed for hours until they got to Woodward Valley from Greenville."But did they offload the entire truck to search?" he probed."I doubt that they did." "Okay. You should get to your hotel and remain inside. I just got info that the police team from yesterday may be visiting Cholula this afternoon." "Is that right?" "So I heard. Or better still, do not go to any hotel. Find somewhere else to lodge until you hear from me again." "But where else is safer than a hotel?" he asked feeling desperate. "I know a place. It's an old farmhouse occupied by an old couple. Fabian's grandparents." "Oh ho! Don't tell me this was your grand plan all along to make your friend see
DISCOVEREDIt was lunchtime and Caleb realised he was starving. All he had eaten the previous day was toasted bread and salad prepared by Hannah and Bella. Then in the afternoon, he didn't have time to eat as he spent it trying to help them settle down at the new place he got for them. Later that evening, he was called to be at Primo Palace and all he took was a bottle of the most expensive wine which he shared with Mr Ramirez. And later on in the night, he drank French wine as they talked.He felt his stomach growling in protest. Even Abhi heard it from his office and teased him. "When Madam Leah was begging you to have breakfast at home you said food was the least of your worries. Now the worms can't bear it anymore that they want to cause a volcanic eruption in your stomach." Caleb didn't know when he let out a burst of laughter. "You're crazy, man!" "I swear I've been so busy that I can't wait for all of this to be over so I can take a month-long vacation." "Sure. You will ne
SHOWING UPCaleb called the inspector of police, and he promptly answered. "To what do I owe this personal call?" he said cheerfully. "To a long-lasting friendship of mutual interests," he replied. Then he added, "I was hoping we could hang out maybe later in the day. What do you think?" "Oh, that would be wonderful. Let's make it eight o'clock this evening." "That's fine by me," Caleb consented. "What venue?" the Inspector asked. "FanFood Eatery." "I shall be there," the inspector promised and the call quickly ended. A notification dropped in Caleb's phone. He checked it was a text message. He hastily read through because he was behind the wheel. A delivery truck just turned up in the El-Zaki mansion. It has spent about 25 minutes inside the premises." The message read. Caleb immediately sensed something sinister. He pulled over and replied to the informant. "Have it followed and let me know its destination." The info made him feel a bit troubled. But he shrugged it off an
DOOMSDAY Everyone's attention was turned in the direction of the intruders. "Gentlemen, how may we help you?" the lady questioned. "It's more about how we may help you," Caleb responded. Barrister Crusoe kept his face down avoiding Hart's gaze. The director spoke next. "Yes, let's hear you out." "Good day, lady and gentlemen. My name is Caleb Dezani of Dezani Cosmetics," he introduced himself. The director narrowed his furrow, and the three men seated to the right of the lady gasped. The other three including the lady shone their eyes in disbelief. "You mean you're the CEO of Dezani Cosmetics!" "That's correct," Caleb said suppressing a grin at their dramatic expressions. The director went on. "How may we help you? I mean you already said it's you who wants to help us, so please, to what do we owe this August visit?" "Well, I was reliably informed that you were asking to see the original documents of DeZ Cosmetics." "Dez Cosmetics isn't the same as Dezani Cosmetics, am I
DETAINEDHart drove with bated breath heading to the ministry. He kept trying to reach his father to find out whether he was able to trace barrister Crusoe but his line remained unreachable.It was almost ten o'clock and his line wasn't still connecting. None of the bodyguards that went out with him had returned home last night. It was as if there was a conspiracy amongst them to abandon the mansion the moment their boss went incommunicado. Everyone was just acting strangely - including his mother. She had suddenly packed her bags after his father left the house telling him she was going on an emergency business trip but that she would call to inform him when to join her. "Where is this business conference, seminar, or whatever taking place?" "We'd be touring round different countries starting from Portugal. Then we'd move to Brazil and so on.""All within South America?" Hart had enquired. But she didn't give a definite answer. Surprisingly, not too long after she left for the ai